For the amount of work and money involved in building a 700r4 it just doesn't make sense to do one yourself if you don't already have the tools and experience. I don't mean to say that you're not capable of doing it, it's just that when you add up the costs of having to do it twice (and odds are you will) you'll be money ahead by calling up Bow Tie. They are probably the best mail order trans you'll ever get. DO NOT give any money to those goofs at raptor you'll regret it.
If you do decide that you have to do it yourself at all costs then you'll need a few tools that really aren't optional:
1: Get an ATSG manual
2: Turbine shaft teflon seal installer and resizer (only use solid seals here)
3: Some kind of a compressor to remove the return springs
4: Special compressor to remove the low reverse retainer
5: Various snap ring pliers
6: Lip seal tool
List of parts for a long lived tranny. Some people may recommend more/less than what I have here but if you use these parts and put it together correctly it will last.
1: Stock low/reverse fritions qty 5
2: 4l60e low reverse steels qty 4
3: "Beast" sun gear shell
4: Thrust washer set
5: Bearing kit
6: Gasket set
7: Wide high energy band
8: Corvette servo (or billet)
9: Overrunning frictions qty 2
10: Overrunning steels qty 2
11: Forward steels qty 5
12: Forward friction (stock is fine) qty 5
13: 3-4 Z pack
14: Reverse input friction qty 4
15: 4l60e reverse input steels qty 4
16: 4l60e apply piston kit (bonded seals)
17: .470 or .500 boost valve
18: Transgo shift kit
19: 10 vane pump kit (they come in different thicknesses to match your pump, so you'll need to measure)
20: The best quality furnace brazed converter you can get
21: TCC apply solenoid
22: Front seal retainer
23: Trans temp gauge
24: The biggest plate style cooler you can get
Ok, if you're still with me you'll notice I typed 10 vane pump and not the 13 vane pump. This is no accident, 13 vane pump rotors only come in one size which may or may not work with your pump body. It could be too loose and cause low pressure or it might be too tight and bind and break, you get the point. Next thing you'll notice is I don't recommend any kolene steels, they seem to cause premature wear of the friction plates because the of rough texture of the steels. Use a high energy band and not the Kevlar, Kevlar can wear the reverse input drum surface in heavy use. Make sure the band surface is perfectly flat on the reverse input drum or the band will have a very short life.
I could go on for many pages with everything but I'll just leave with a few general tips.
Everything must be spotlessly clean.
Follow the manual on everything especially clearances.
Don't be in a hurry
Make sure you have good cooler flow, low cooler flow will kill the reaction planetary in short order.
Follow the instructions exactly on the shift kit
Sure you don't want to call Bow Tie Overdrive?
